Australian scientists discover ancient BBC ‘echidnapus’
Scientists reveal surprising role of brain in immune regulation PsyPost. Paul R: “I wonder if this could be related to immune system dysfunction due to covid.”
‘Tragedy’: Greenpeace bans planting of ‘life-saving’ Golden Rice Guardian (Kevin W). Note that sustainable ag experts like Timothy Wise disagree, pointing out that there is no evidence of golden rice’s health benefits and that it is harmful to farmers. And Vitamin A is cheap. Why not distribute the pills directly? It is done throughout Africa with ivermectin.
US, European countries look to vaccinate workers exposed to bird flu Reuters
#Covid 19
“Airlines on long-haul flights where face coverings were enforced reported no transmission of SARS-CoV-2, indicating that masks can significantly reduce aircraft-acquired COVID-19”
It’s a clear no-brainer – but it’s up to all passengers to comply
Hide in airplanes! 😷
– Long Covid SOS (@LongCovidSOS) May 28, 2024
HOLY SHIT. These mechanical findings about the effect of covid on immune signaling seem to have great potential!
Let’s dig…
(And I’m honestly happy right now, because this paper seems to support my theory of *how* to avoid LC.)
— Nick #AirborneCovidExhaustsTCells😷 Anderegg (@NickAnderegg) May 27, 2024
Climate/Environment
At least 15 dead after severe weather wreaks havoc in many states in South Associated Press
The Holy Trinity: Holding Power, Materials and Civilization Rachel Donald (Micael T)
China?
China ‘Blockade Simulation’ Reveals 5 Trillion Global Danger Bloomberg. Your humble blogger has been saying for years that China doesn’t need and therefore most likely won’t attack Taiwan. All you have to do is block it. Taiwan depends on imports, especially food and energy.
US-China Tensions Flare Up Over Undersea Cables; Beijing Accuses Its ‘Main Enemy’ of Subsea Espionage Indo Pacific Eurasian Times
Biden Doesn’t Want You To Buy An EV From China. Here’s Why. The New York Times (Kevin W)
China’s Tariffs Won’t Make America Good Again Asia Times (Kevin W)
Africa
Who is behind the coup d’état in the Democratic Republic of Congo? Anti-Spiegel (Micael T)
👀👀👀👀
The ANC has less than 39% of the votes?
Some big news in recent South African research on @afrobarometer …
A 🧵… pic.twitter.com/cJo9RxYgzi
– Nic Cheeseman (@Fromagehomme) May 27, 2024
The breakup of Europe
Map: Europe is rising rapidly to the right. Right-wing militias gain power ahead of next month’s European Parliament elections, Politico
German minister admits harmful home heating laws were just a “test” to find out “how far society is willing to go in terms of climate protection” eugyppius (Micael T)
Habeck and shock therapy: “Sorry…” Nachdenseiten. Michael T:
Does the EU leadership do nothing but get angry or make the lives of citizens worse? The depth of the malicious intent, if not pure evil, of the Western economic and political elite lies at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
Borrell referred to question 3. World War as a “philosophical” Anti-Spiegel. Please excuse machine translation errors. Micael T: “Philosophy does not reveal stupidity.”
Overtourism in Spain: citizens have had enough, as protests erupt in Mallorca, Ibiza and the Canary Islands South China Morning Post.
Gaza
Israel faces wave of rejection with strike at Rafah camp Financial Times. The best story. A sign that the Lobby is losing its power in the media.
The UN Security Council is expected to meet regarding Rafah’s deadly incident Arab News
The Rafah massacre: how Israeli bombs drove Gazans from their tents in Mondoweiss
Deadly strike on Rafah is a tragic tragedy, says Netanyahu BBC (Kevin W)
Despite ICJ order, Israel pushes 1 more war zone in Rafah Anadolu Agency
Far-off Israeli settlers step up attacks on aid trucks headed for Gaza Washington Post (Kevin W)
Israeli airstrike kills 35 in Rafah after Hamas launches rockets Tel Aviv Guardian (Kevin W)
How Israel Twists Claims That Antisemitism Reveals Its Own Crimes Against Palestinians 972 (Dr. Kevin)
This is it @JoeBiden again @Democrats they have done it and they are doing it. Nothing they can say or do now will save them from this massacre.
– Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) May 26, 2024
Revealed: Israeli spy chief ‘intimidates’ ICC prosecutor over war crimes probe Guardian
Shipping rates are rising as businesses anticipate more Red Sea attacks Financial Times
‘We are divided’: unity in Israel is fading as the war in Gaza approaches its ninth month. Caretaker
Do you know that Netanyahu’s real name is Mileikowsky?
Every prime minister of Israel changed their names to sound middle eastern.
Here is a list of all their real names. Share or you are antisemitic. pic.twitter.com/RfbH8PIl6K
— Richard Medhurst (@richimedhurst) May 27, 2024
The New Cold War
About EW… Andrei Martyanov (guurst)
SITREP 5/26/24: NATO’s Yipping Chihuahuas Tighten Their Leash As Russia Prepares Next Wave Simplicius the Thinker
NATO to ‘initiate’ arms support to Kiev at the US summit – TASS secretary general
Six NATO countries plan ‘drone wall’ to protect borders with Russia Financial Times
“Protective Shield East”: Poland to build a new eastern wall of 2.3 Euro WSWS. Micael T: “Preventing desperate EU citizens from fleeing to a prosperous Russia?”
Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos once said that if you have a plan B, it means you don’t have enough confidence to accept defeat.
This woman has the same plans as A, B and C.
– RationalInvestor (@Orangeman1992) May 27, 2024
Foreign Ministers Meet in Chaos After Hungary Rejects More Arms to Ukraine
Hungarian broadcaster Péter Szijjártó said the “crazy” plans of the hawkish countries would escalate the war. #Hungary #Ukraine #army #EPF #support #UkraineRussiaWar
– European Conservative (@EuroConOfficial) May 28, 2024
Vladimir Putin in Irakli Kobakhidze’s statement about the threat: there are many EU commissioners and they often say useless nonsense, which causes the sadness of Interpress News. Micael T: “’Sadness’ – ROFLMAO. Russia really looks at EU politicians as ill-bred children who keep twisting.”
Western businesses backtrack on exit plans from Russia The Financial Times. The best story.
The Caucuses
The position of the president of Georgia is mainly ceremonial, not executive. This French woman (yes, look up) playing the president of Georgia wants a regime change. That is treason.
— Moon of Alabama (@MoonofA) May 27, 2024
Georgia’s prime minister accuses president of treason for opposing ‘foreign embassies’ law The Telegraph
Syracistan
After Ukraine and Gaza, the forgotten problem – Syrian refugees euobserver
Single-source accounts should be taken with a grain of salt:
🇮🇷🇮🇱 The killing of Raisi and his colleagues “was authorized by Netanyahu and the Israeli military cabinet”
Journalist Richard Silverstein reports this with reference to “a well-informed source in the Israeli ministry.”
📝 “An Israeli security source confirmed that Israel is carrying… pic.twitter.com/5hMyZNdDT3
— Zlatti71 (@Zlatti_71) May 27, 2024
IRAN INCIDENT, PERSIAN PUTSCH — EVIDENCE THAT PRESIDENT RAISI, FALIKI’S PRIME MINISTER AMIR-ABDOLLAHIAN WAS KILLED John Helmer. Helmer speculates on the other side.
Imperial Collapse Watch
US Opposes European Plan to Criticize Iran Over Nuclear Activity Wall Street Journal. Phil U: “Did hell freeze over while I wasn’t looking?”
The idea of nuclear conflict, and… Hindu
The brink of collapse: Neurosis in the West as the levee breaks Alastair Crooke
Trump
7 says where Trump can expand the map in November The Hill
Bragg and the Jackson Pollock School of Prosecution: Why Trump’s Trial May End With a Hung Jury Jonathan Turley
Hoo boy:
“I will not give one cent to any school that mandates vaccinations” – Trump vowing to ban the requirement of all childhood vaccines – and vowing to sicken and harm dozens of children with preventable diseases.
(at the Libertarian National Convention). pic.twitter.com/szyugXU2aj
– Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) May 27, 2024
Biden
Pete Buttigieg Mocked For Joe Biden’s $7.5 Billion ‘Colossal Failure’ Newsweek (Kevin W)
The AI
Google’s AI Feeds People Answers From Onion avclub
The Danger of Superhuman AI Is Not What You Think Nomea (Micael T)
AI and 3-D printing are reshaping the fashion industry The Globe and Mail (Dr. Kevin)
YouTube has now started skipping videos of users with ad blockers on Android (Kevin W)
Bezzle
HBO’s MoviePass documentary is a snapshot of how C-suites are killing companies The Verge (Micael T)
Class War
‘Extraordinary numbers’ show years of pain for employers Sydney Morning Herald
America’s Shocking Home Prices Explained – You Won’t Like Forbes (Kevin W)
Retiring abroad can mean more governance than bruschetta. But CNN (Kevin W) is growing in popularity. Note that a large group are elderly people who have some money but are afraid or afraid of being pressured by the cost of living
Antidote du jour. Above: “5 very hungry birds. Sorry guys, no bugs or worms can come back! “
And a bonus:
A cat gives its food to an unhealthy owner🤒❤️ pic.twitter.com/QfQ0ynwk0e
– Why you should have a cat (@ShouldHaveCat) May 28, 2024
See yesterday’s links and the Antidote du Jour here.